Saw this advertised here a couple of weeks ago.

I was surfing Samba.com today and saw this post.

"Here is a pic of my new swap bus. This bus was found for me by a friend and recently purchased. It will be arriving in the U S A in about 2 months. Just in time to get ready for the spring/summer show season"

[Edited on 20-12-2002 by decked dubby]

This is the one for sale at the DO!!

:jesus:jesus:jesus:jesus:jesus:jesus

You realy can't complain about this going overseas. This Kombi was offered to Aussie Vee dubbers and no one bought it. What can you expect when no one wants here there is always a buyer some where else!

Well,

I'll fess up here because I belive honesty is the best policy...

I've got it and and I'm sending it to a good friend in the US (my 23 window was a US bus so you can probably figure out the relationship).

He runs a small VW shop in Arizona and REALLY wanted it and is just so excited about it. He will fix the rust, do the drivetrain and make it his swap meet bus - its a good life for the bus (and that's what counts...)

The bus had been on the market for a fair while with no takers - lots of admiration but no cash. My friend paid the original asking price in full (the price mentioned here wasn't the original asking price by the way) and after shipping (which is expensive) and port fees etc it will cost him a LOT of money and he is still just so excited to have it.

This is not a profit making thing. I will do the leg work at this end because he is my friend and I owe him - I like to pay my debts.

I do not buy and sell vehicles or parts overseas for profit - this is the first vehicle I've ever sent OS.

I like to see busses saved and go to good homes. I don't feel that my karma has been dinted by this - in fact I think the the seller, the buyer, the bus and myself are very happy and the world is in balance with this.

That's the story - so fire away!

RobK

That Split has been posted on a number of UK and US sites due to its rarity... along with comments like... christ can you image how quickly that would be snapped up if it was for sale here. I don't now how much it was sold for but I saw another post on this site speculating it was around 2000 dollars... in the UK that would have sold in hours at say 10000 dollars and with a bit of a wait perhaps 15000 dollars. This is why they are leaving OZ. But you guys had so many more of them than the UK ever did. So please, those of you who can't stand to see them leave, either do something like buy them or realise we are all part of the vee dub family.

ican hear what you are saying ghia abnd as u mentioned 10000-15000 dollars for a bus thats why kik up a stink about this for sopmething that isnt worth that much if we aussies just watched these go then our prices will be that much soion (and not to mention the price of parts )
cheers
rhys

Good on you for putting the story straight Rob. Sounds like it's going to a really good home. Arizona, rust will never be a problem again.
Dean:tree

Rhys,

You know that by the time you're through you'll have 15 to 20k and a LOT of time in it (that's what to do it 'properly' WILL cost - paint, seals, mechanical and interior)

Say in a few years time (more than a few maybe ) you NEED a house deposit, for some other monetary emergency or maybe even some money for your next project......what will you think when the local market says that your bus is worth
$5K to 8K absolute tops?

Rob thanks for the story on the van

It was posted here for sale on 1/12 under
For Sale, '63 Aussie Container Van, and also for sale at the DO, there was opportunity for it to stay in OZ, we all loved it and saw it potential but none of us bought it.

It's a brilliant van!! Is your friend going to try and restore it with the signage? Good on him for wanting to bring it back to life and also put it to practical use :thumb

Post some pics of it restored or in the process if you are able to get any. I'd love to see how it looks finished

:tree

I think we'd all like to see it when it's done & I too hope the sign writing is restored to its former glory.

I'm not unsympathetic to those of you who hate to see old vws going elsewhere, but really this is a global market and sorry to labour the point but i honestly feel with a passion we are all part of one big vw club / family... we all love these things... we have that in common... don't we?

VWs are being shiped left right and centre to places where they are wanted.

In mainland europe it's all the early water cooled cars heading off to eastern europe and beyond. Meaning it is becoming hard for water cooled enthuisasts to run and restore early golfs (which here in the uk are now an established part of the vw scene) because the germans no longer make many parts for them... meanwhile in south africa they still make them.

There are many of us here in the uk who will drive right accross europe and beyond to drag back a bag of rust and spend years getting it back to better than new... not suggesting we're the only people who do this, but we are driven by a passion, bringing your cars here isn't about greed it's about love, passion & style.

I've read a number of posts on here mentioning rust which has gone so far the vechicle is beyond repair, one post mentioned english guys even taking splits in that state, but some guy back here will be happy to spend every spare minute he has for the next three to five years somehow against all odds getting that thing back and breathing again. peace

Sweet!

Hey Herbie, who's complaining????

Just letting fellow forum member know whats happening. Isn't that the point of this whole thing??????


Splitbus, you did the right thing and helped out a mate. I would, and have done the same. You certainly should,'t feel bad.

Herie Down Under, I think that's known as "Shooting the messenger".

Herbie was just stating a fact. The van was on offer here, no one bought it to keep here and so it went to someone from OS who wanted it, and from what we're learning to someone who really loves the van.

If we want to keep these VW's here then we need the people to buy them. There was ample opportunity to pick up this one before it went.

hey
ok i understand know but i think if australia went like pommy land(no offense) then it would draw alot of people away from them which would be disapointing!
cheers
rhys
p.s. look at the bright side its going to be restored!

Well, I would love to see unique Vehicles like that stay in Australia but the World does revolve on Money... and We just don't have that sort of money..... If One of Us had that sort of money under their mattress, I'm sure they would have bought it... I know My Son would have loved it.... but He's just bought a house & He already has 5 cars & 3 Bikes so it wasn't viable. Its just a shame that it will never be seen again in Australia... It IS gone forever.... but will be loved just the same... just a different accent :rudolf

68Autobug, well said. No agression and too the point.:thumb:tree

Give it twenty years and a changed world they'll probably be shipping them back to you

I've been dabbling in old cars now for nearly 4 decades. I distinctly remember a time just prior to Maggie Thatcher (early '70's?) when the pound was shit - at one stage $1.25 Aust- & aussies in their droves were going to the UK & bringing back early MG's esp TC's & prewar TA's & TB's. & boy did the poms moan about losing ther heritage! Something like we've been hearing re this container van!
Look cheer up! Go to this site: http://www.thegumtree.com  This is where tourists from Oz NZ & South Africa advertise looking for shared accomodation etc in London. Try this on for size 100 POUNDS to share a flat ie $300aus to live in a flat with your own bedroom & share the rest. Sheez if that's what it like we should donate them bloody kombis!

[Edited on 23-12-2002 by geodon]

I won't mean this as a comment directly in relation to the container van mentioned, which I must say was definitley a very interesting vehicle.

We have tons of bay busses here, and they are still relatively inexpensive. I don't think any of them are leaving our shores yet. We do have a very large aircooled future ahead of us.

Peter

Good an ya RobK.:thumb

You helped out a mate and ensured a bus a loving home where it will get the attention it deserves.

The worlds a small place these days and it really doesn't matter where on the planet something goes.

There isn't a great deal of differance between interstate and OS.